The Electoral Law was passed on Labour Day following heated debates at the Constituent Assembly, paving the way for the Independent Electoral Commission to start preparations for parliamentary and presidential elections due before the end of the year. Two issues dominated the final session of debates: the “exclusion” or vetting law and gender parity/youth quota. The rejection of Article 167, concerning the exclusion of figures related to the Ben Ali regime, came as no surprise to observers of Tunisian affairs, having been one of the trade-offs of the national dialogue. However, the opposition to gender parity by some independent members such as Brahim Kassas, linked to Nida Tounes, surprised many and led to a massive media reaction. Adoption of the Electoral Law brought other good news for Tunisians when PM Mehdi Jomaa flew at the weekend to Algiers to sign an agreement of $500 million in credits and grants.
http://nawaat.org/portail/2014/05/04/may-1-2014-parliament-passes-electoral-law-citizens-invoke-right-towork/ http://www.huffpostmaghreb.com/2014/05/01/tunisie-paritehorizontal_n_5247156.html?utm_hp_ref=maghreb http://www.kapitalis.com/economie/22118-le-grand-frere-algerien-tire-son-chequier-500-millions-d-euros-ala-tunisie.html
